Taylor v. Stringer

1 Hilt. 377

Opinions

Daly, J. —

The question in this case is, whether there was sufficient evidence of the service of notice of protest. The clerk of the notary was called by the plaintiff, and produced a copy of the protest, at the foot of which was a memorandum in these words: “served notices of protest at endorsers’ offices;” .which memorandum he testified was in his handwriting. He further testified that he served notices at the endorsers’ offices, as he saw by his memorandum ; that he had no positive recollection as to when the memorandum was made; that the certificate of protest was made on the evening of the 13th or the morning of the 14th, but how long after the memorandum was made he could not state, further than that he was certain that it was made the day. the certificate of protest was made, or the next. That he could not swear positively that the notices of protest were served on the 14th, but could swear that it was the next day, though there was a possibility of its not being so, but that he would swear to to it; that he was confident of it from his invariable custom; that he did not remember the fact independent of his memorandum ; that there was a possibility of its not being so, but he should say that the notices of protest were served on the 14th; that he served them himself, but could only say so from the memorandum; that he served all three of the endorsers, filled out the notices; did not know where he served one of them, Mr. Erben, unless it was at bis place of business, or where be served tbe others, except at their place of business.

The amount of this testimony is, that, as to the fact of the service of notices of protest, the witness had no recollection or knowledge respecting it except what was indicated by the memorandum. He did swear that he was certain that the memorandum was made the day of tibe protest, or the next, but admitted, before doing so, that he had no positive recollection when it was. made; and admitting the memorandum to have all the force and effect of an original entry, made in the course of business at the time when the witness concluded it was made, still, it is not sufficiently definite to supply what could not be obtained from the defective memory of the witness. It does not state when the service was made, nor with sufficient certainty where it was made. When the case was submitted to the jury, the defendants had furnished about as satisfactory proof as could well be furnished on their part, that no notice had been left at their place of business. They proved by their bookkeeper that any such notice or paper would necessarily go through his hands, because in keeping an account of the note in suit, as of all others, the notice of protest would have come to him, as of any other proceeding connected with this business, and that he had no knowledge that a notice of protest had been served or received at the defendants’ place of business. After this proof was in, and before the case was submitted, the defendants asked for a nonsuit upon the whole evidence, and I think, as the evidence stood, that they were entitled to it.

To charge them as endorsers, it was necessary to show that notice of protest had been served on them within the time required by law. The fact that the clerk had no recollection of the service independent of the memorandum, that the memorandum was in his handwriting, that it was an entry in the usual course of the notary’s business, and the clerk’s conviction that it was made within the time stated by him, was, I think, sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to read the memorandum in proof of any fact that it would serve to establish. Rex v. St. Martin Leceister, 2 A. & E. 210 ; Cleverly v. McCullough, 2 Hill, 445 ; Clark v. Voice, 15 Wend. 193 ; Merrill v. Ithaca and Owego Railroad Co., 16 ibid. 586 ; Halliday v. Martinet, 20 Johns. 172. And giving it tbe fullest, effect, all that could be proved by it was, that notices were served upon tbe endorsers at their offices. It does not state when they were served, and in this respect is just as defective as the memory of the witness. The testimony of the clerk, in respect to the time of service, is nothing more than the conclusion he draws from the existence of the memorandum, the time of protest, and his custom in serving such notices. It was no proof of the fact that the service was made within the time required by law, but simply a conclusion formed in his mind from the existence of other facts. If he had any recollection of the circumstance of having served the notices, however may have been the impression remaining upon his memory, it would be evidence of the fact to submit to a jury. But he had none. His memory totally failed him. When he saw the memorandum he was convinced that he had made the service, and was willing to swear positively that he had made it on the 14fch, but not because the memorandum recalled or revived the recollection of a circumstance which had passed from his memory, but from a conviction in his mind, the result of an operation of reason and judgment. The recollection of a fact by a witness is one thing, and his presuming or being convinced of the existence of a fact, in .respect to which he has no recollection, is another. The former is the only testimony which it is competent for a witness to give, the other, upon a fact which is disputed, is no testimony at all. It is the office of the law, or the province of a jury, when the point in dispute is to be exclusively passed upon by them, to draw conclusions from facts, or presume the existence of certain facts from the existence of other facts. In this case neither the court nor the jury would be warranted, upon the facts proved, in drawing the conclusion that notice of protest had been served upon the defendant on the 14-th, within which day it was necessary that it should be served to charge the defendants. All that they had beforp them was the state ment of tbe witness tbat be was confident of it from bis invariable custom: — or tbe evidence, or wliat was proved, may be thus stated: — a memorandum, under a copy of tbe protest, in tbe bandwriting of tbe notary’s clerk, stating tbat notice bad been served upon tbe defendants at tbeir office, the absence of all recollection upon tbe subject by tbe clerk, or of any knowledge respecting tbis particular act, except tbat tbe memorandum was in bis bandwriting, and bis statement tbat it was bis babit, or, as be expressed it, bis invariable custom, to serve sucb notices witbin tbe regular time. Tbis would not be enough to authorize tbe jury to presume, as matter of fact, tbat notice of tbe dishonor of this note bad been served on tbe defendants on the day after it was protested. Tbe facts relied upon to prove it were disputed, so tbat tbe legal and logical inference to be drawn from these facts was matter of law, and all tbat they can be regarded as proving is, that notices were served at tbe defendants’ offices. Tbe time of sucb service could be inferred-only in tbe form of a presumption drawn from tbe clerk’s statement, tbat it was bis babit to serve such notices witbin the proper time; and such a presumption could not be allowed to prevail where it is positively sworn to, in tbe defendants’ answer, tbat no notice of presentment, demand, nor payment of any description was given to them, and where they have negatived sucb a presumption by as much proof as they could reasonably be expected in sucb a case to furnish. Presumptions are to be formed where facts are in dispute, when it is fully in tbe power of tbe other part}', if the fact is otherwise, to show it. But in tbis case tbe defendants could not show positively tbat notice bad not been served — for a notice of protest may be served sufficiently to charge a party without its coming to bis knowledge, or tbe knowledge of any one at bis place of business, or residence. All that the defendants could do, therefore, as they could not themselves be examined as witnesses, unless tbe plaintiff thought proper to call them, was to give tbe best negative evidence which the nature of the case would admit. This they did; and ' giving the same weight to tbeir evidence which is to be given to tbe usual habit or custom of the notary’s clerk, the negative presumption which it creates is quite as strong as a presumption of service, in this particular case, to be drawn from the usual course and habit of the notary’s clerk.

Brady, J., concurred in the opinion of Judge Daly.